August 25
The Grace Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God… 2 Corinthians 5:17-18a
Almost every week, New Song experiences one or more miracles. Someone gives their life to Christ, and a new creation begins!
Speaking from personal experience, the Apostle Paul said, “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin…” (Rom. 6:6).
When you entered into a relationship with Jesus, what Paul calls “your old self” got replaced by a “new self,” so everything within you is made new. Sure, you’ve got old habits, thought patterns, and attitudes you’ll need to tame and kill, and that will take time and repeated practice. But to be “in Christ” means that you have a new nature within you – one that is able to say “no” to sin and “yes” to right and godly choices.
Again, from personal experience, Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God…” (2 Cor. 5:17-18a). Look for a minute at the four absolutes in this promise:
Let’s go a little deeper with this Grace Creation idea. At least seven changes come to you when you invite Jesus to live in you:
1. You get a new outlook. You begin to see the world through Jesus’ eyes. You realize that the world has a purpose, and so does your life.
2. You get a new goal. The day before I received Christ, my goal was to be an Olympic swimmer. The day after I received Christ, my goal was to please Him in everything I do.
3. You get hope. You hope to be of use to the Lord, to hear "Well done" when you enter heaven, and to bring as many there with you as possible.
4. You get new friends. You become part of God’s forever family, with a spiritual bond that unites you with other Christ-followers.
5. You get new values. High values before coming to Christ are usually things like achievement, recognition, security, wealth, and pleasure. In your new Grace Creation, you find yourself valuing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
6. You get new character. Not only do you value the attributes just listed, but you also find it easier (though not easy) to act more lovingly, joyful, peaceful, patient,
etc.
7. You get a new destination. Before Christ, most of us didn’t think a lot about our eternal destination. In Christ, we instantly become aware that heaven is our true home, and as we grow in Christ, we find ourselves living more and more in preparation for that home.
Let’s pray:
Lord, from the day I invited You in, I can see how You have been recreating me in Your image. Thank You for the unmerited favor You have given me in re-making my nature into a new nature, like Yours. Today I want to make significant and permanent strides in becoming a person who thinks, acts, cares, and serves like You. Help me to grow in the amazing grace you’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Almost every week, New Song experiences one or more miracles. Someone gives their life to Christ, and a new creation begins!
Speaking from personal experience, the Apostle Paul said, “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin…” (Rom. 6:6).
When you entered into a relationship with Jesus, what Paul calls “your old self” got replaced by a “new self,” so everything within you is made new. Sure, you’ve got old habits, thought patterns, and attitudes you’ll need to tame and kill, and that will take time and repeated practice. But to be “in Christ” means that you have a new nature within you – one that is able to say “no” to sin and “yes” to right and godly choices.
Again, from personal experience, Paul says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God…” (2 Cor. 5:17-18a). Look for a minute at the four absolutes in this promise:
- Anyone. The promise of new creation applies to anyone who comes to Jesus.
- The old has passed. All of it. All your old habits, thinking patterns, and attitudes are flushed! The only reason they ever need to surface is through passive muscle memory. When a chicken gets its head cut off, the latent electricity still in its body causes it to twitch around for a while. That old muscle memory has no power anymore. By relying on God, you can say “no” to it!
- The new has come! The moment Jesus enters your life, He brings instantaneous change to every area of your interior life.
- Everything is from God. Absolutely everything that is new about your nature came from God. I call this the "The Grace Creation" because you caused none of it, you didn't work for any of it; it came upon you because Jesus has given you what you didn't deserve, and you are becoming something you couldn't have become on your own. It's all grace.
Let’s go a little deeper with this Grace Creation idea. At least seven changes come to you when you invite Jesus to live in you:
1. You get a new outlook. You begin to see the world through Jesus’ eyes. You realize that the world has a purpose, and so does your life.
2. You get a new goal. The day before I received Christ, my goal was to be an Olympic swimmer. The day after I received Christ, my goal was to please Him in everything I do.
3. You get hope. You hope to be of use to the Lord, to hear "Well done" when you enter heaven, and to bring as many there with you as possible.
4. You get new friends. You become part of God’s forever family, with a spiritual bond that unites you with other Christ-followers.
5. You get new values. High values before coming to Christ are usually things like achievement, recognition, security, wealth, and pleasure. In your new Grace Creation, you find yourself valuing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
6. You get new character. Not only do you value the attributes just listed, but you also find it easier (though not easy) to act more lovingly, joyful, peaceful, patient,
etc.
7. You get a new destination. Before Christ, most of us didn’t think a lot about our eternal destination. In Christ, we instantly become aware that heaven is our true home, and as we grow in Christ, we find ourselves living more and more in preparation for that home.
Let’s pray:
Lord, from the day I invited You in, I can see how You have been recreating me in Your image. Thank You for the unmerited favor You have given me in re-making my nature into a new nature, like Yours. Today I want to make significant and permanent strides in becoming a person who thinks, acts, cares, and serves like You. Help me to grow in the amazing grace you’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
August 26
Grace Motivates Me
1 Corinthians 15:10
By the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10
Years ago, I lived next door to a police officer. His name was John. To supplement his regular pay, John worked overtime shifts patrolling downtown for drunk drivers. One night, John invited me to do a ride-along with him.
About 11 p.m., we found a vehicle weaving down the boulevard at 15 miles over the speed limit. John pulled him over. “Want me to handle this?” I offered. He made it quite clear I was to stay in the car.
Officer John had a few words with the perp, then came back to the squad car. While waiting for the dispatcher to verify the man’s I.D., he told me, “He’s not drunk. Boy, is he nervous! But he’s not drunk, so I’m going to let him go.”
I thought, “I bet that guy wishes he knew what I know right now!”
Even though he was exceeding the speed limit, he got off without a ticket. I watched his reaction from my seat in the car. It was classic. He thanked John, promised never to weave and speed again, shock his hand, and thanked him some more. As he drove off, I thought, “That guy’s grateful, because he just got grace.”
Motivating Grace
Luke 7 tells the story of a woman who wept as she emptied a bottle of perfume on Jesus’ feet. “She wiped his feet with her tears, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume” (Lk. 7:38).
When a Pharisee scoffed at this, Jesus asked him, “If there are two debtors and one owes $500,000, and the other owes $500, which one is more grateful when their debt is
forgiven?”
“The one who was forgiven more,” said the Pharisee.
“You’re right,” said Jesus.
The Apostle Paul was one of those who realized how much he’d been forgiven. “His grace to me was not in vain. I’ve been forgiven so much that I work harder for Jesus
than all the rest” (1 Cor. 15:10, my paraphrase).
He wrote to the people of Crete: “We too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone” (Tit. 3:3-8).
The Story of Christianity
The story of every Christian is, “I was not who I should have been, but Jesus was kind to me. Not because of anything I deserved. He cleaned me up. Now, I’m His child. I’m so grateful, I’ll do anything He asks.”
Pray this:
Lord, thank You for doing so much for me! I'm unspeakably grateful, and always available. If You've got something You want done, call on me. I'm ready, willing, and able. In Jesus' name, Amen!
Years ago, I lived next door to a police officer. His name was John. To supplement his regular pay, John worked overtime shifts patrolling downtown for drunk drivers. One night, John invited me to do a ride-along with him.
About 11 p.m., we found a vehicle weaving down the boulevard at 15 miles over the speed limit. John pulled him over. “Want me to handle this?” I offered. He made it quite clear I was to stay in the car.
Officer John had a few words with the perp, then came back to the squad car. While waiting for the dispatcher to verify the man’s I.D., he told me, “He’s not drunk. Boy, is he nervous! But he’s not drunk, so I’m going to let him go.”
I thought, “I bet that guy wishes he knew what I know right now!”
Even though he was exceeding the speed limit, he got off without a ticket. I watched his reaction from my seat in the car. It was classic. He thanked John, promised never to weave and speed again, shock his hand, and thanked him some more. As he drove off, I thought, “That guy’s grateful, because he just got grace.”
Motivating Grace
Luke 7 tells the story of a woman who wept as she emptied a bottle of perfume on Jesus’ feet. “She wiped his feet with her tears, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume” (Lk. 7:38).
When a Pharisee scoffed at this, Jesus asked him, “If there are two debtors and one owes $500,000, and the other owes $500, which one is more grateful when their debt is
forgiven?”
“The one who was forgiven more,” said the Pharisee.
“You’re right,” said Jesus.
The Apostle Paul was one of those who realized how much he’d been forgiven. “His grace to me was not in vain. I’ve been forgiven so much that I work harder for Jesus
than all the rest” (1 Cor. 15:10, my paraphrase).
He wrote to the people of Crete: “We too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone” (Tit. 3:3-8).
The Story of Christianity
The story of every Christian is, “I was not who I should have been, but Jesus was kind to me. Not because of anything I deserved. He cleaned me up. Now, I’m His child. I’m so grateful, I’ll do anything He asks.”
Pray this:
Lord, thank You for doing so much for me! I'm unspeakably grateful, and always available. If You've got something You want done, call on me. I'm ready, willing, and able. In Jesus' name, Amen!
August 27
Responding to Grace
Psalms 116
How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me? Psalm 116:12
Psalm 116 is the story of a grateful believer. We don’t know his name, occupation, when or where he lived; only that he was in straits so dire he felt like he was being tormented by hell and about to die. Have you ever felt something like that?
This unknown soul cried out to God and experienced grace. Remember a few days ago, when we looked at God's great name? (The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. Exodus 34:6-7) The writer of Psalm 116 uses the first portion of that name to praise God in v. 5.
Read these eight sentences, and see if you can identify with how he was feeling:
1 I love the Lord because he has heard my appeal for mercy.
2 Because he has turned his ear to me, I will call out to him as long as I live.
3 The ropes of death were wrapped around me, and the torments of Sheol overcame
me; I encountered trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6 The Lord guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
8 For you, Lord, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Psalm 116:1-8
For several years, Lori and I tried to conceive and couldn't. We were diagnosed as "infertile." It felt like a death sentence. Then one day, Lori passed an early pregnancy test, which felt like a miracle! When Bryan was born, all was right in our world. Like this unknown psalmist, we said, "The Lord has been good to us!"
Three weeks later, we woke up to Bryan having seizures in his crib. We rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with spinal meningitis, given a 50% chance of brain damage, and a 90% chance of hearing loss. “The ropes of death were wrapping around us, and the torments of Sheol were overcoming us” (v. 3)
Bryan was transferred by ambulance to the Children's Hospital, an hour's drive away. We “called on the name of the Lord: ‘Lord, save him!’” (v. 4).
After five dark days, we brought Bryan home. No brain damage, no hearing loss. Such an outcome demanded a response.
The psalmist searched his mind for an appropriate response to his miracle: How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me? (Ps. 116:12). I can relate.
He came up with three answers: I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people (Ps. 116:13-
14).
By “take the cup of salvation,” he meant, "I will embrace the salvation I've been given. I will swallow it and savor it. I'll give God praise for it. I won't take it for granted."
By "and call on the name of the Lord," he meant, “I’ll say thanks, or sing thanks, directly to God and affirm to Him that He is my Lord.”
And by, “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,” he meant, “I’ll go to the Temple and present the offering I pledged to Him,” or, perhaps stand up and testify to His goodness – whatever he had pledged to do when he called on the Lord in v. 4.
The idea of “repaying the Lord” (v. 12) seems ridiculous, doesn’t it? He’s done more for me than I could ever repay. I owe more than everything to Him.
Take a moment to pray this:
Lord, I can't repay You even 1% of what I owe for all Your grace to me. I can say "thank You," and I'm doing that now. And I can promise to "fulfill my vows," and testify to Your goodness to others. I will do that today, Lord, and this Sunday in church! And I will continue to walk closely with You because You are truly gracious and compassionate, abounding in love and faithfulness to a thousand generations. And if there's something else You'd like me to do, just say the word and I'll do it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
Psalm 116 is the story of a grateful believer. We don’t know his name, occupation, when or where he lived; only that he was in straits so dire he felt like he was being tormented by hell and about to die. Have you ever felt something like that?
This unknown soul cried out to God and experienced grace. Remember a few days ago, when we looked at God's great name? (The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. Exodus 34:6-7) The writer of Psalm 116 uses the first portion of that name to praise God in v. 5.
Read these eight sentences, and see if you can identify with how he was feeling:
1 I love the Lord because he has heard my appeal for mercy.
2 Because he has turned his ear to me, I will call out to him as long as I live.
3 The ropes of death were wrapped around me, and the torments of Sheol overcame
me; I encountered trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6 The Lord guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
8 For you, Lord, rescued me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Psalm 116:1-8
For several years, Lori and I tried to conceive and couldn't. We were diagnosed as "infertile." It felt like a death sentence. Then one day, Lori passed an early pregnancy test, which felt like a miracle! When Bryan was born, all was right in our world. Like this unknown psalmist, we said, "The Lord has been good to us!"
Three weeks later, we woke up to Bryan having seizures in his crib. We rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with spinal meningitis, given a 50% chance of brain damage, and a 90% chance of hearing loss. “The ropes of death were wrapping around us, and the torments of Sheol were overcoming us” (v. 3)
Bryan was transferred by ambulance to the Children's Hospital, an hour's drive away. We “called on the name of the Lord: ‘Lord, save him!’” (v. 4).
After five dark days, we brought Bryan home. No brain damage, no hearing loss. Such an outcome demanded a response.
The psalmist searched his mind for an appropriate response to his miracle: How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me? (Ps. 116:12). I can relate.
He came up with three answers: I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people (Ps. 116:13-
14).
By “take the cup of salvation,” he meant, "I will embrace the salvation I've been given. I will swallow it and savor it. I'll give God praise for it. I won't take it for granted."
By "and call on the name of the Lord," he meant, “I’ll say thanks, or sing thanks, directly to God and affirm to Him that He is my Lord.”
And by, “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,” he meant, “I’ll go to the Temple and present the offering I pledged to Him,” or, perhaps stand up and testify to His goodness – whatever he had pledged to do when he called on the Lord in v. 4.
The idea of “repaying the Lord” (v. 12) seems ridiculous, doesn’t it? He’s done more for me than I could ever repay. I owe more than everything to Him.
Take a moment to pray this:
Lord, I can't repay You even 1% of what I owe for all Your grace to me. I can say "thank You," and I'm doing that now. And I can promise to "fulfill my vows," and testify to Your goodness to others. I will do that today, Lord, and this Sunday in church! And I will continue to walk closely with You because You are truly gracious and compassionate, abounding in love and faithfulness to a thousand generations. And if there's something else You'd like me to do, just say the word and I'll do it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
August 28
Disciplining Grace
Titus 2:11-13
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13
August 29
The Grace of Suffering
Hebrews 12:7-11
Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and
live?10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrew 12:7-11
live?10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrew 12:7-11
August 30
Motivating Grace
Psalm 66:13-20
I will enter your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows 14 that my lips promised and my mouth spoke during my distress. 15 I will offer you fattened sheep as burnt offerings, with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will sacrifice bulls with goats. Selah 16 Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for me. 17 I cried out to him with my mouth, and praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 However, God has listened; he has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me. Psalm 66:13-20